When Jeddou Ouldcheikhna moved to Toronto five years ago, he went on a hunt for frozen custard. When he realized none of the ice-cream places carried the frozen treat, Ouldcheikhna decided to open Jedd’s Frozen Custard. The shop currently offers vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and butter pecan custards (2470 Yonge St., 647-986-2020).

 

While the name Lila Lupo may be new, the women’s clothing shop (originally called Tonka) goes back more than 30 years. Tonka Braham opened the store in 1979, bringing Dior gowns to a neighbourhood where the only other shop around was a Beer Store. However, when owner Braham fell ill, Lupo became heir to the shop and its legacy (2649 Yonge St., 416-484-8377).

 

When Pallucci opened 10 years ago, owners Neil and Michelle Siomra said rent on their Yorkville restaurant was going through the roof, so they decided to set up a restaurant in the Mount Pleasant area. Ten years later, they have a private-dining room to boast of, and award-winning dishes such as wild mushroom risotto (523 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-484-9828).

 

La Dira Hair and MedSpa, is the new one-stop beauty shop at Yonge and Eglinton owned by Kate Lee and Sema Baskaraca. Some of the services offered are haircuts, oxygen facials, manicures and eyebrow shaping. The shop combines an Eastern philosophy toward skin care with the Western advantages of technology, says Lee (2481A Yonge St., 416-451-3380).

 

Made in France, a popular Ottawa shop owned by Manuel Molina, is making its way into the hearts of locals. The store moved here last month and offers gourmet French foods and gifts such as Provence herbs and Brittany caramels (2614 Yonge St., 647-344-9240).